Obstacle to Peace: Palestinian leadership’s hatred of the Jewish state

Settlements are merely a pretext

Take-A-Pen editorial* - Nov.2, Updated December 12, 2010

There is no higher obstacle to peace than hatred. Without fanatic hatred on any side there is always a chance to reach an agreement, even a peace treaty, through compromise. But with fanatic hatred in mind how could any agreement hold? Most Israelis do not hate Arabs, or Palestinian Arabs; some do not hate even terrorists. On the other side those mature Palestinians who have been in personal contact with Israelis, are mostly also ready for peaceful co-existence.

Unfortunately, the Palestinian Arab leadership is much more extremist than its electorate. It still holds, nurtures and teaches hatred towards Jews, and Israeli Jews in particular. One of the many examples is the personal contribution to hatred, incitement and libelous lies of the Palestinian "Chief Peace negotiator Saeb Erekat - read our "Peace Talks with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat"

Many Arabs hate Jews because that is what fundamentalist Islam teaches them. Many Palestinians hate Israelis - that is the Israeli Jews; they obviously do not hate only envy the Israeli Arab minority for their rights and wealth - because that is what their leadership, their mosque, school and media have indoctrinated them since time immemorial. However, most mature Palestinians who have more experience with Israeli Jews, do not hate them. They mostly know even the value of their neighbors, only they don’t have a voice.

Apparently, the worst hatred is incited against the Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, called by many - and not fully justified - “Palestinian territories”. But if you think that at least these settlements are hated by all Arabs, think again. Jewish settlements can serve as an economic leverage for their Palestinian neighbors, who know this very well.